BJP serves showcause notice to Ram Jethmalani

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday issued a showcause notice to veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani asking him to explain why he should not be expelled.

The BJP, which deliberated on the anti-party activities of Jethmalani, has given the 86-year-old lawyer a 10-day deadline to put forth his views.

Senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar told mediapersons after his party's parliamentary board that met here to discuss the growing rebellion in the party had ratified Jethmalani's suspension.

Jethmalani earlier in the day said that the party decision would neither affect his stand nor his seat in the Rajya Sabha.

Reacting to the BJP's stand to suspend him with 'immediate effect', Jethmalani said: "I am totally indifferent, whatever they do, doesn't bother me in the least. No body can take away my seat from Parliament."

Jethmalani earlier reiterated his stand against BJP President Nitin Gadkari and said that he will again urge the BJP leaders to stand united against Gadkari.

"I am 100 per cent sure that there are many more, many more but all don't have the capacity to speak the truth publicly and openly," he said.

Jethmalani was suspended from the BJP on Sunday evening soon after his statement daring the party that nobody had the courage to take action against him.

He had embarrassed his party on several occasions in the recent past, be it his open criticism against the party stand to oppose the appointment of new CBI director, asking Gadkari to step down as party president over corruption charges or controversial remarks about Hindu Lord Ram. (ANI)